Episode 675: The Life and Death of “Lobster Boy”, Grady Stiles Jr.

Morbid

Morbid Network | Wondery

True Crime, Comedy, Exhibit C

4.5 • 95.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2025

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

From the moment he was born, Grady Stiles entertained audiences around the United States as the sideshow performer “Lobster Boy.” But behind the scenes, Stiles’ life was one of turmoil, alcoholism, and even murder. That all came to an end one night in the fall of 1992, when a killer entered Stiles’ Florida home and shot him to death.

In the days that followed Grady Stiles murder, investigators quickly unraveled a conspiracy plot to kill Stiles, which had been set in motion by his wife, Mary Theresa, and his stepson, who’d hired a teenage carnival worker to commit the murder. After a lifetime in the spotlight because of his physical deformity, it was Grady Stiles’ death that brought him the ultimate fame, but what had he done to earn such a brutal end?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Allen, William. 1978. "Her dad faces trial in fiance's slaying." Pittsburgh Press, October 6: 4.

Associated Press. 1994. "Defense: Abuse led wife to hire husband's killer." Miami Herald, July 13: 24.

Florida Department of Corrections. 2014. Corrections Offender Network. March 5. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=532246&TypeSearch=IR.

Ireton, Gabriel. 1979. "'Lobster Man' guilt in kin's fiance death." Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, February 23: 3.

Jackson, Orval. 1994. "Judge rules self-defense must include admission." Tampa Tribune, July 15: 20.

—. 1994. "Wife of 'Lobster Boy' guilty." Tampa Tribune, July 28: 1.

Lester, John. 1992. "Legless carny slain at his house." Tampa Tribune, December 1: 7.

Maryniak, Paul. 1979. "Deformed slayer gets probation." Pittsburgh Press, April 30: 1.

—. 1979. "Performer's slay trial goes to jury." Pittsburgh Press, February 22: 2.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 1978. "Legless man charged in slaying." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 28: 7.

Rosen, Fred. 1995. Lobster Boy: The Bizarre Life and Brutal Death of Grady Stiles Jr. New York, NY: Pinnacle.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, weirdos, before we dive into today's twisted tale, let me tell you about a place where the darkness never ends. Wondery Plus. It's like stepping into a haunted mansion where the floorboards creek with ad-free episodes and early access to new episodes lurks around every corner. So come join us, if you dare. Morbid is available one week early and ad free only on Wondery Plus. You can
0:23.3	join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or an Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You're listening to a Morbid
0:30.3	Network podcast. This episode is brought to you by Netflix and their true crime documentary series, Cold Case,
0:40.0	the Tylenol murders, available now.
0:42.1	You know what's absolutely mind-blowing?
0:44.1	After four decades, the Tylenol murders remain one of America's most haunting unsolved cases.
0:49.9	In 1982, seven people in Chicago died after taking Tylenol laced with cyanide.
0:55.1	And after watching this documentary, you can feel the sheer panic that gripped the nation.
1:00.1	Imagine not being able to trust something as basic as over-the-counter medicine.
1:03.9	But here's what's even more chilling, the copycat cases that followed.
1:07.8	The documentary reveals how this single act of malice sparked a wave of pharmaceutical
1:12.3	tampering that changed how we package medicine forever. The filmmakers do an incredible job of putting
1:17.7	you right there in 1982 Chicago. The fear, the uncertainty, the way it transformed everyday life,
1:23.7	it's all captured in vivid detail through archival footage and interviews with investigators
1:28.4	who are still haunted by this case today. Looking for more true stories to get stuck into,
1:33.6	this month on Netflix, don't miss Fred and Rose West, a British horror story, a deadly American
1:38.0	marriage, and untold The Liver King. Stream all this and more on Netflix.
1:43.5	Lamont Jones is shattered when his cousin dies just weeks after entering prison.
1:48.4	The official report says natural causes, but bruises and missing teeth tell a different story.
1:53.4	Wondry presents Death County PA, a chilling true story of corruption and cover-ups.
1:58.5	Follow Death County PA on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts.
2:03.4	Hey, weirdos, I'm Ash.
	...

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